Joe Keller of Garden of Ideas sells his wares at the last farmers market off Governor Street in 2011. —Press photo
A farmers’ market is coming back to town.
The Plannng and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the Community Center’s special permit application for a farmers’ market Tuesday, July 23, following a brief public hearing.
“The community has to be invested in the Community Center — it represents the values of the town,” said Di Masters, center executive director. “This is another way to get money to fund the projects we must undertake to maintain and to improve the building.
“We are looking for an additional service to provide for our community members.”
The market will operate on Wednesdays from 2 to 6 on the new south side parking lot and lawn.
A farmers’ market was located at Governor Street before it was closed in 2011, and on Danbury Road from 2008 to 2010.
The idea to bring back the market stemmed from “several requests” by townspeople.
“I have the perfect location to bring back the farmers’ market — this is a perfect opportunity for both the Community Center and the community at large,” Ms. Masters said.
The center, which was established in 1958, is a non-profit corporation that raises money through grants and donations to preserve the building, which is owned by the town.
However, Ms. Masters said the building needed an additional source of money to deal with water damage and other on-site problems.
“The intent of this special permit is to allow all current uses and allow occasional outside events such as the farmers’ market,” she explained. “This will enable us to take care of things and to continue doing business for the community.”
Ms. Masters added that the application authorizes a variety of activities that have long taken place at the center under a revised zoning regulation that allows institutional uses, by special permit, in residential zones.
“I need this special permit to do business as usual,” she said.
“The current uses have gone on for almost 60 years now — the center’s uses predate special permit regulations,” said Rex Gustafson, the applicant’s attorney.
Town planner Betty Brosius explained that the center has been operating under some “very old variances” that date back to 1958.
The building’s uses include wedding and anniversary celebrations — and much more.
“In its history, the building has hosted so many activities and events,” said Ms. Masters. “It’s had bowling on the third floor and shooting in the basement; it’s taught foreign languages ranging from Hebrew to Japanese.”
The only complaint voiced during the public hearing came from Commissioner Phil Mische, who wanted to know what exactly the special permit would regulate, if anything at all.
“I see a regulation with no regulations — I want to know what is contained in this special permit exactly,” he said.
He mentioned the idea of shaping the application to express specific uses. Ms. Brosius said she would draft regulations on how to operate the farmers’ market — in terms of maximum hours of operation and days of operation.
The hearing was closed after a brief 15-minute discussion and the commissioners voted to approve the application.
“We’ve been doing a lot of things at this place for over 60 years and we don’t plan on changing that,” said Ms. Masters.
She intends on having the farmers’ market up and running by the end of the summer or the beginning of fall.